Subdural empyema

A review of the data on the cases of subdural empyema seen at a large general hospital over the past twenty years disclosed several problems in the diagnosis and management of subdural empyema. These included failure to recognize subdural empyema as a complication of sinusitis and confusion of subdural empyema with viral encephalitis or various types of meningitis. The diagnosis was obscured in several patients by early antibiotic therapy, resulting in a delay in surgical drainage. Greater awareness of the clinical settings in which subdural empyema occurs is necessary to reduce the high morbidity and mortality from this condition.